Basket



Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES HERBERT J. OBRIEN AND ARTHUR RALSTON PAGE, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA;

SAID PAGE ASSIGNOR TO SAID OBRIEN.

BASKET.

Application filed August 27, 1925. Serial No. 52,730.

Our invention relates to an open container, and particularly to a basket in which fruit is packed for market.

One of the objects of our invention is the provision of a fruit basket which has no metal parts, such as staples or other fas'- teners, to bruise or discolor the fruit.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a basket which is impervious l0 to moisture, and which cannot impart any foreign tastes or odors to the fruit.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a fruit basket which is formed from flat stock with a minimum of .waste in l5 cutting, which is packed and shipped \in fiat form, and which is easily and quickly assembledand held in assembled form by an automatic lock.

Our invention possesses' other objects and features of advantage, some which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of our invention. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by said description, as we may adopt varient forms of our invention within the scope of the claim.

Referring/to the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of our fruit basket.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken thru the center of our basket.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of -the ring-like band or outer member of our basket when opened to receive the liner.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the sheet or blank comprising the liner of our fruit Abasket as it appears before folding.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the liner blankshowing a modified form of the tab portion of the automatic lock of our basket. y

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the band member inc uding the slot portion of the automatic lock used on our basket.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the sheet o r blank comprising the outer member before the ends are adhesively united.

In terms of broad inclusion our invention is a fruit container which comprises two portions, both of which are preferably made of fibrous material such as paper board. A great deal of dissatisfaction has resulted from the use of the wooden basketcommonly used in handling picked fruit. The wood is apt to impart a flavor to the fruit, and the metallic fasteners and reenforcing strips bruise and discolor the fruitwhich materially lessens its commercial value. The Wooden basket does not provide'suliicient ventilation, so that decay is hastened, and Wood dampene'd with fruit juices provides a medium for ,the growth of mold and spores, which spread rapidly to the fruit.

The basket of ourk invention is made `from a fibrous material'such as paper board and is preferably formed in two parts, an outer'portion and aninner portion.' The outer portion forms the sides of the basket and comprises a ring-like band which has a smaller perimeter at the bottom than at the top, and which is provided with a plurality of ventilating apertures. Suitable notches are cut out of the lower edge of this band to permit air to circulate under the basket. The inner or liner portion comprises a bottom, the perimeter of which is greater than the perimeter of the lower edge of the band, so that the bottom is supported by the sides and does not contactwith the surface upon which the basket rests. That portion of the sides eX- tending beloysr thel bottom forms a lian elike leg of great strength about the entlre lower end of the basket.

Disposed on each side of the bottom are tapered flaps .which line the inner surface of the band above the bottom. Ventilating apertures are also provided in these flaps and when the liner is nested in the band, these apertures register with the apertures in the vband so that unrestricted ventilation is insured. -An automatic lock may be provided by striking tabs out of the flaps. These tabs are co lanar with thenbottom, and extend thru s ots in theband so that the bottom is not easily misplaced. The aps are divided from the bottom by creases to facilitate the folding, and single movement in bringing the two parts of the basket together is sufficient to nest the liner in folded position Within the band and lock the tabs in the slots.

The liner is preferably formedpf a waterproof thin board, for example a chip board laving asphalt incorporated' therein, or a paraliined surface board. The outer ring member may be of light coloretdfstock such as bleached manila news box board.

In detail our invention' comprises a strip having four equal sectlons 2, .3, 4,

and 5 separated by transversely extending creases 6, 7 and 8. The sides of the sections coincident with the sides of the strip are`parallel, but the other opposite sides of each section,

"converge symmetrically, so that when the formed at one edge. of the flap 9, which is to the other end of strip, is adh'esively united the strip a tapered square ring such as shown in Figure 3 is formed, and this ring comprises the outer member fof the basket. .In the sides of this ring Ventilating apertures 11 are provided which are preferably elongated slots so that a piece of fruit lying against the side of the basket is not apt to obstruct an aperture as would be likely if the openings were round. We have foufnd it preferable to use fairly small apertures in the sides of the basket to avoidI weakening the structure and reference to the drawings will disclose a size and arrangen'lent of apertures which has proved very satisfactory.

vA slot 12 is also formed in the material ad-' l jacent the lower edge of each sidel of vthe ring-like member, and extending from the ends ofthis slot, vare short slits 13. 1

The inner or liner member of the basket comprises a flat sheet blanked out as shown in Figure 4 and comprisinga bottom 16 somewhat larger than the small opening inthe ring. On each side of the bottom is a flap 17, divided therefrom by a crease or foldV line 18, and lwhich is exactly the same size as the inside surface of each of the sides of thering member above the bottom, so that l when the flaps are folded up the liner nests snugly in the ring member, the edges of thel liner coming together in a tight joint in each corner. Since the ring member -is tapered, and the flaps on the liner being similarly shaped, there is a wedge action which tends to tighten the joints when the basket is in use.

In order to provide means to prevent the i liner from becoming disengaged from the removed as shown.

ring, wemay provide. the modified 'form of locking tabs 21 preferably having 4a narrowed neck portion 22 and the outer corners These tabs are formed by suitable cutting tools when the blank is formed and are integral and coplanar with the bottom. Because of the peculiar shape of the tab, it readily 'enters the slot 12, and since the kwidest portion .of the tab is somewhat greater thanthe length of the slot the cornersbetween the end of theslot and the slit 13 are forced outwardly, and as the tab seats fully in the slot these corners snap back onto the neck portion of the tab and may be lthrust lock it in position.

The parts are soarranged .and proportioned that the ring member andthe liner..

together wlth substantially a the iaps bending up as the single motion,

liner is seated in the ring, s the taperededges of the flaps seat. against the sidesof adjacent flaps the tabssnap into place in the slots and the assembling-operation is completed,

It is entirely feasible to use a cheaper grade of material in the outer portion andv a better grade of materialin the liner, the two comprising together 'a vbasket having an. attractive appearance and in which the same weight and thickness of material produces a" stronger basketI than can be produced by a single ply basket of the requisite weight of board there are from one to four thicknesses material. In previous baskets made of paper of material at various points in the basket.y

In our basket there are. uniformly two thicknesses'of material in thesides, each portion being cut with very little waste so that the basket can be made with the material costs substantially the same, or less ethan,

other baskets, with the added advantage of presenting a superior stock to the fruit. That is to say, it is practically possible in the dual constructionof the basket to use a waterproof liner of good quality in combnation with a cheaper reenforcing oristrengthening outer member, thus putting the good quality of material next to the fruit where it logically belongs.

The bottom 16 is provided with Ventilating apertures 24, which may conveniently be spaced on the diagonals as shown. `The flapsy 17 are also provided with Ventilating apertures 25, which register with the apertures 11 when the liner member and the ring member comprising a bottom and sides nesting within` the ring-like member, the sides of ,said linerbeing outwardly tapered to limit its 'downward movement relative tothe 15 v ring-like member and tabs co-planar with the b ottom of the liner engaging the cut-out.

portions of the side walls of the ring-like member and preventing upward movement' of theliner. .f f

Inl testimony whereof,` We have hereunto set ourha'nds.

` I ERBERT J. oBnIE'N. ARTHUR RALsToN Plien 

